Command line reference for Oracle, Windows,
Linux and OS X
An A-Z Index of the Windows NT/XP command line
ADDUSERS
ARP
ASSOC
ASSOCIAT
AT
ATTRIB
Add or list users to/from a CSV file
Address Resolution Protocol
Change file extension associations
One step file association
Schedule a command to run at a later time
Change file attributes
BROWSTAT Get domain, browser and PDC info
CACLS
CALL
CD
CHANGE
CHKDSK
CHKNTFS
CHOICE
CIPHER
CleanMgr
CLEARMEM
CLIP
CLS
CLUSTER
CMD
COLOR
COMP
COMPACT
COMPRESS
CON2PRT
CONVERT
COPY
CSVDE
Change file permissions
Call one batch program from another
Change Directory - move to a specific Folder
Change Terminal Server Session properties
Check Disk - check and repair disk problems
Check the NTFS file system
Accept keyboard input to a batch file
Encrypt or Decrypt files/folders
Automated cleanup of Temp files, recycle bin
Clear memory leaks
Copy STDIN to the Windows clipboard.
Clear the screen
Windows Clustering
Start a new CMD shell
Change colours of the CMD window
Compare the contents of two files or sets of files
Compress files or folders on an NTFS partition
Compress individual files on an NTFS partition
Connect or disconnect a Printer
Convert a FAT drive to NTFS.
Copy one or more files to another location
Import or Export Active Directory data
DATE
Dcomcnfg
DEFRAG
DEL
DELPROF
Display or set the date
DCOM Configuration Utility
Defragment hard drive
Delete one or more files
Delete NT user profiles
DELTREE
DevCon
DIR
DIRUSE
DISKCOMP
DISKCOPY
DNSSTAT
DOSKEY
DSADD
DSQUERY
DSMOD
Delete a folder and all subfolders
Device Manager Command Line Utility
Display a list of files and folders
Display disk usage
Compare the contents of two floppy disks
Copy the contents of one floppy disk to another
DNS Statistics
Edit command line, recall commands, and create macros
Add user (computer, group..) to active directory
List items in active directory
Modify user (computer, group..) in active directory
ECHO
ENDLOCAL
ERASE
EXIT
EXPAND
EXTRACT
Display message on screen
End localisation of environment changes in a batch file
Delete one or more files
Quit the CMD shell
Uncompress files
Uncompress CAB files
FC
Compare two files
FDISK
Disk Format and partition
FIND
Search for a text string in a file
FINDSTR Search for strings in files
FOR
Conditionally perform a command several times
FORFILES Batch process multiple files
FORMAT
Format a disk
FREEDISK Check free disk space (in bytes)
FSUTIL
File and Volume utilities
FTP
File Transfer Protocol
FTYPE
Display or modify file types used in file extension
associations
GLOBAL
GOTO
Display membership of global groups
Direct a batch program to jump to a labelled line
HELP
Online Help
HFNETCHK Network Security Hotfix Checker
IF
Conditionally perform a command
IFMEMBER Is the current user in an NT Workgroup
IPCONFIG Configure IP
KILL
Remove a program from memory
LABEL
Edit a disk label
LOCAL
Display membership of local groups
LOGEVENT Write text to the NT event viewer.
LOGOFF
LOGTIME
Log a user off
Log the date and time in a file
MAPISEND
MEM
MD
MODE
MORE
MOUNTVOL
MOVE
MOVEUSER
MSG
MSIEXEC
MSINFO
MSTSC
MUNGE
MV
Send email from the command line
Display memory usage
Create new folders
Configure a system device
Display output, one screen at a time
Manage a volume mount point
Move files from one folder to another
Move a user from one domain to another
Send a message
Microsoft Windows Installer
Windows NT diagnostics
Terminal Server Connection (Remote Desktop Protocol)
Find and Replace text within file(s)
Copy in-use files
NET
NETDOM
NETSH
NETSVC
NBTSTAT
NETSTAT
NOW
NSLOOKUP
NTBACKUP
NTRIGHTS
Manage network resources
Domain Manager
Configure network protocols
Command-line Service Controller
Display networking statistics (NetBIOS over TCP/IP)
Display networking statistics (TCP/IP)
Display the current Date and Time
Name server lookup
Backup folders to tape
Edit user account rights
PATH
PATHPING
PAUSE
PERMS
PERFMON
PING
POPD
PUSHD
PORTQRY
PRINT
PRNCNFG
PRNMNGR
PROMPT
PUSHD
Display or set a search path for executable files
Trace route plus network latency and packet loss
Suspend processing of a batch file and display a message
Show permissions for a user
Performance Monitor
Test a network connection
Restore the previous value of the current directory saved by
QGREP
Search file(s) for lines that match a given pattern.
RASDIAL
Manage RAS connections
Display the status of ports and services
Print a text file
Display, configure or rename a printer
Add, delete, list printers set the default printer
Change the command prompt
Save and then change the current directory
RASPHONE
RECOVER
REG
REGEDIT
REGSVR32
REGINI
REM
REN
REPLACE
RD
RDISK
RMTSHARE
ROBOCOPY
ROUTE
RUNAS
RUNDLL32
Manage RAS connections
Recover a damaged file from a defective disk.
Read, Set or Delete registry keys and values
Import or export registry settings
Register or unregister a DLL
Change Registry Permissions
Record comments (remarks) in a batch file
Rename a file or files.
Replace or update one file with another
Delete folder(s)
Create a Recovery Disk
Share a folder or a printer
Robust File and Folder Copy
Manipulate network routing tables
Execute a program under a different user account
Run a DLL command (add/remove print connections)
SC
SCHTASKS
SCLIST
ScriptIt
SET
SETLOCAL
SETX
SHARE
SHIFT
SHORTCUT
SHOWGRPS
SHOWMBRS
SHUTDOWN
SLEEP
SOON
SORT
START
SU
SUBINACL
SUBST
Service Control
Create or Edit Scheduled Tasks
Display NT Services
Control GUI applications
Display, set, or remove environment variables
Begin localisation of environment changes in a batch file
Set environment variables permanently
List or edit a file share or print share
Shift the position of replaceable parameters in a batch file
Create a windows shortcut (.LNK file)
List the NT Workgroups a user has joined
List the Users who are members of a Workgroup
Shutdown the computer
Wait for x seconds
Schedule a command to run in the near future
Sort input
Start a separate window to run a specified program or command
Switch User
Edit file and folder Permissions, Ownership and Domain
Associate a path with a drive letter
TASKLIST
TIME
TIMEOUT
TITLE
TOUCH
TRACERT
TREE
TYPE
List running applications and services
Display or set the system time
Delay processing of a batch file
Set the window title for a CMD.EXE session
Change file timestamps
Trace route to a remote host
Graphical display of folder structure
Display the contents of a text file
USRSTAT
List domain usernames and last login
VER
VERIFY
VOL
Display version information
Verify that files have been saved
Display a disk label
WHERE
WHOAMI
WINDIFF
WINMSD
WINMSDP
WMIC
Locate and display files in a directory tree
Output the current UserName and domain
Compare the contents of two files or sets of files
Windows system diagnostics
Windows system diagnostics II
WMI Commands
XCACLS
XCOPY
Change file permissions
Copy files and folders
An A-Z Index of Oracle SQL Commands (version 9.2)
ANALYZE
AUDIT
CALL
Cluster - CREATE CLUSTER
Cluster - ALTER CLUSTER
Cluster - DROP
CLUSTER
COMMENT
COMMIT
CONNECT
CONSTRAINT - Add / Enable
Context - CREATE CONTEXT
Context - DROP CONTEXT
Controlfile - CREATE CONTROLFILE
Database - CREATE DATABASE
Database - ALTER DATABASE
DELETE
DESCRIBE
Dimension - CREATE DIMENSION
Dimension - ALTER DIMENSION
Dimension - DROP DIMENSION
Directory - CREATE DIRECTORY
Directory - DROP DIRECTORY
EXEC
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE
EXPLAIN PLAN
Function - CREATE FUNCTION
Function - ALTER FUNCTION
Function - DROP
FUNCTION
GRANT
Index - CREATE INDEX
Index - ALTER INDEX
Index - DROP
INDEX
Indextype - CREATE INDEXTYPE
Indextype - DROP INDEXTYPE
INSERT
INTERSECT
Java - CREATE JAVA
Java - ALTER JAVA
Java - DROP JAVA
Library - CREATE LIBRARY
Library - DROP LIBRARY
Link - CREATE DATABASE LINK
Link - DROP DATABASE LINK
LOCK TABLE
Mview
Mview
Mview
Mview
Mview
Mview
MINUS
-
CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW
ALTER MATERIALIZED VIEW
DROP MATERIALIZED VIEW
CREATE MATERIALIZED VIEW LOG
ALTER MATERIALIZED VIEW LOG
DROP MATERIALIZED VIEW LOG
NOAUDIT
Operator - CREATE OPERATOR
Operator - DROP OPERATOR
Outline - CREATE OUTLINE
Outline - ALTER OUTLINE
Outline - DROP OUTLINE
Package - CREATE PACKAGE/BODY
Package - ALTER PACKAGE
Package - DROP
PACKAGE
Pfile - CREATE PFILE
Procedure - CREATE PROCEDURE
Procedure - ALTER PROCEDURE
Procedure - DROP
PROCEDURE
Profile - CREATE PROFILE
Profile - ALTER PROFILE
Profile - DROP
PROFILE
RECOVER
RENAME
Resource - ALTER RESOURCE COST
REVOKE
RMAN - Recovery Manager
Role - CREATE ROLE
Role - SET
ROLE
Role - ALTER ROLE
Role - DROP
ROLE
ROLLBACK
Rollback - CREATE ROLLBACK SEGMENT
Rollback - ALTER ROLLBACK SEGMENT
Rollback - DROP
ROLLBACK SEGMENT
SAVEPOINT
Schema - CREATE SCHEMA
SELECT
Sequence - CREATE SEQUENCE
Sequence - ALTER SEQUENCE
Sequence - DROP
SEQUENCE
Session - ALTER SESSION
SHUTDOWN
SNAPSHOT
SPfile - CREATE SPFILE
STARTUP
Statistics - ASSOCIATE STATISTICS
Statistics - DISASSOCIATE STATISTICS
Synonym - CREATE SYNONYM
Synonym - DROP
SYNONYM
System - ALTER SYSTEM
Table - CREATE TABLE
Table - ALTER TABLE
Table - DROP
TABLE
Tablespace - CREATE TABLESPACE
Tablespace - ALTER TABLESPACE
Tablespace - DROP
TABLESPACE
Tablespace - CREATE TEMPORARY TABLESPACE
Transaction - SET TRANSACTION
Trigger - CREATE TRIGGER
Trigger - ALTER TRIGGER
Trigger - DROP
TRIGGER
TRUNCATE
Type - CREATE TYPE
Type - ALTER TYPE
Type - DROP TYPE
Type - CREATE TYPE BODY
Type - DROP TYPE BODY
UPDATE
UNION
User - CREATE USER
User - ALTER USER
User - DROP
USER
View - CREATE VIEW
View - ALTER VIEW
View - DROP
VIEW
SYNTAX:
Words in CAPS are Oracle commands, words in lower-case are the options you can
modify.
Sections enclosed in [] are optional, underlined options are the default
Sections enclosed in {} are alternatives. The pipe symbol | indicates OR.
An A-Z Index of the Linux BASH command line
alias
awk
break
builtin
Create an alias
Find and Replace text, database sort/validate/index
Exit from a loop
Run a shell builtin
cal
case
cat
cd
cfdisk
chgrp
chmod
chown
Display a calendar
Conditionally perform a command
Display the contents of a file
Change Directory
Partition table manipulator for Linux
Change group ownership
Change access permissions
Change file owner and group
chroot
cksum
clear
cmp
comm
command
continue
cp
cron
crontab
csplit
cut
Run a command with a different root directory
Print CRC checksum and byte counts
Clear terminal screen
Compare two files
Compare two sorted files line by line
Run a command - ignoring shell functions
Resume the next iteration of a loop
Copy one or more files to another location
Daemon to execute scheduled commands
Schedule a command to run at a later time
Split a file into context-determined pieces
Divide a file into several parts
date
Display or change the date & time
dc
Desk Calculator
dd
Data Dump - Convert and copy a file
declare Declare variables and give them attributes
df
Display free disk space
diff
Display the differences between two files
diff3
Show differences among three files
dir
Briefly list directory contents
dircolors Colour setup for `ls'
dirname Convert a full pathname to just a path
dirs
Display list of remembered directories
du
Estimate file space usage
echo
ed
egrep
eject
enable
env
eval
exec
exit
expand
export
expr
Display message on screen
A line-oriented text editor (edlin)
Search file(s) for lines that match an extended expression
Eject CD-ROM
Enable and disable builtin shell commands
Display, set, or remove environment variables
Evaluate several commands/arguments
Execute a command
Exit the shell
Convert tabs to spaces
Set an environment variable
Evaluate expressions
factor
false
fdformat
fdisk
fgrep
find
fmt
fold
for
Print prime factors
Do nothing, unsuccessfully
Low-level format a floppy disk
Partition table manipulator for Linux
Search file(s) for lines that match a fixed string
Search for files that meet a desired criteria
Reformat paragraph text
Wrap text to fit a specified width.
Expand words, and execute commands
format
free
fsck
function
Format disks or tapes
Display memory usage
Filesystem consistency check and repair.
Define Function Macros
gawk
getopts
grep
groups
gzip
Find and Replace text within file(s)
Parse positional parameters
Search file(s) for lines that match a given pattern
Print group names a user is in
Compress or decompress named file(s)
hash
head
history
hostname
Remember the full pathname of a name argument
Output the first part of file(s)
Command History
Print or set system name
id
if
import
info
install
Print user and group id's
Conditionally perform a command
Capture an X server screen and save the image to file
Help info
Copy files and set attributes
join
Join lines on a common field
kill
Stop a process from running
less
let
ln
local
locate
logname
logout
lpc
lpr
lprint
lprintd
lprintq
lprm
ls
Display output one screen at a time
Perform arithmetic on shell variables
Make links between files
Create variables
Find files
Print current login name
Exit a login shell
Line printer control program
Off line print
Print a file
Abort a print job
List the print queue
Remove jobs from the print queue
List information about file(s)
m4
man
mkdir
mkfifo
mknod
more
Macro processor
Help manual
Create new folder(s)
Make FIFOs (named pipes)
Make block or character special files
Display output one screen at a time
mount
mtools
mv
Mount a file system
Manipulate MS-DOS files
Move or rename files or directories
nice
nl
nohup
Set the priority of a command or job
Number lines and write files
Run a command immune to hangups
passwd
paste
pathchk
popd
pr
printcap
printenv
printf
ps
pushd
pwd
Modify a user password
Merge lines of files
Check file name portability
Restore the previous value of the current directory
Convert text files for printing
Printer capability database
Print environment variables
Format and print data
Process status
Save and then change the current directory
Print Working Directory
quota
Display disk usage and limits
quotacheck Scan a file system for disk usage
quotactl Set disk quotas
ram
rcp
read
readonly
remsync
return
rm
rmdir
rpm
rsync
ram disk device
Copy files between two machines.
read a line from standard input
Mark variables/functions as readonly
Synchronize remote files via email
Exit a shell function
Remove files
Remove folder(s)
Remote Package Manager
Remote file copy (Synchronize file trees)
screen
sdiff
sed
select
seq
set
shift
shopt
shutdown
sleep
sort
Terminal window manager
Merge two files interactively
Stream Editor
Accept keyboard input
Print numeric sequences
Manipulate shell variables and functions
Shift positional parameters
Shell Options
Shutdown or restart linux
Delay for a specified time
Sort text files
source
split
su
sum
symlink
sync
Run commands from a file `.'
Split a file into fixed-size pieces
Substitute user identity
Print a checksum for a file
Make a new name for a file
Synchronize data on disk with memory
tac
Concatenate and write files in reverse
tail
Output the last part of files
tar
Tape ARchiver
tee
Redirect output to multiple files
test
Evaluate a conditional expression
time
Measure Program Resource Use
times
User and system times
touch
Change file timestamps
top
List processes running on the system
traceroute Trace Route to Host
trap
Run a command when a signal is set(bourne)
tr
Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters
true
Do nothing, successfully
tsort
Topological sort
tty
Print filename of terminal on stdin
type
Describe a command
ulimit
umask
umount
unalias
uname
unexpand
uniq
units
unset
unshar
until
useradd
usermod
users
uuencode
uudecode
Limit user resources
Users file creation mask
Unmount a device
Remove an alias
Print system information
Convert spaces to tabs
Uniquify files
Convert units from one scale to another
Remove variable or function names
Unpack shell archive scripts
Execute commands (until error)
Create new user account
Modify user account
List users currently logged in
Encode a binary file
Decode a file created by uuencode
v
vdir
Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')
Verbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b')
watch
wc
whereis
Execute/display a program periodically
Print byte, word, and line counts
Report all known instances of a command
which
while
who
whoami
Locate a program file in the user's path.
Execute commands
Print all usernames currently logged in
Print the current user id and name (`id -un')
xargs
yes
Execute utility, passing constructed argument list(s)
Print a string until interrupted
.period
###
Run commands from a file
Comment / Remark
The tcsh command shell of Darwin Apple OS X(the open
source core of OSX)
alias
alloc
awk
Create an alias
List used and free memory
Find and Replace text within file(s)
basename
bash
bless
break
Convert a full pathname to just a folder path
Bourne-Again SHell (Linux)
Set volume bootability and startup disk options.
Exit from a loop
cal
case
cat
cd
chflags
chgrp
chmod
chown
chroot
cksum
clear
cmp
comm
complete
continue
cp
cron
crontab
cut
Display a calendar
Conditionally perform a command
Display the contents of a file
Change Directory
Change a file or folder's flags.
Change group ownership
Change access permissions
Change file owner and group
Run a command with a different root directory
Print CRC checksum and byte counts
Clear terminal screen
Compare two files
Compare two sorted files line by line
Edit a command completion [word/pattern/list]
Resume the next iteration of a loop
Copy one or more files to another location
Daemon to execute scheduled commands
Schedule a command to run at a later date/time
Divide a file into several parts
date
dc
dd
df
Display or change the date & time
Desk Calculator
Data Dump - Convert and copy a file
Display free disk space
diff
diff3
dirname
dirs
diskutil
ditto
dscl
du
Display the differences between two files
Show differences among three files
Convert a full pathname to just a path
Display list of remembered directories
Disk utilities - Format, Verify, Repair
Copy files and folders
Directory Service command line utility
Estimate file space usage
echo
ed
enable
env
eval
exec
exit
expect
expand
expr
Display message on screen
A line-oriented text editor (edlin)
Stop or start printers and classes.
Set environment and run a utility
Evaluate several commands/arguments
Execute a command
Exit the shell
Programmed dialogue with interactive programs
Also see AppleScript
Convert tabs to spaces
Evaluate expressions
false
fdisk
find
fmt
fold
for
foreach
fsck
fs_usage
ftp
Do nothing, unsuccessfully
Partition table manipulator for Darwin UFS/HFS/DOS
Search for files that meet a desired criteria
Reformat paragraph text
Wrap text to fit a specified width
Expand words, and execute commands
Loop, expand words, and execute commands
Filesystem consistency check and repair
Filesystem usage (process/pathname)
Internet file transfer program
GetFileInfo Get attributes of HFS+ files
getopt
Parse positional parameters
goto
Jump to label and continue execution
grep
Search file(s) for lines that match a given pattern
groups
Print group names a user is in
gzip
Compress or decompress files
head
hdiutil
history
hostname
Display the first lines of a file
Manipulate iso disk images
Command History
Print or set system name
id
if
info
Print user and group names/id's
Conditionally perform a command
Help info
install
Copy files and set attributes
jobs
join
List active jobs
Join lines on a common field
kill
Stop a process from running
l
ll
less
ln
locate
logname
login
logout
lpr
lprm
lpstat
ls
lsbom
lsof
List files in long format (ls -l)
List files in long format, showing invisible files (ls -la)
Display output one screen at a time
Make links between files (hard links, symbolic links)
Find files
Print current login name
log into the computer
Exit a login shell (bye)
Print files
Remove jobs from the print queue
Printer status information
List information about file(s)
List a bill of materials file
List open files
man
mkdir
mkfifo
more
mount
mv
Help manual
Create new folder(s)
Make FIFOs (named pipes)
Display output one screen at a time
Mount a file system
Move or rename files or directories
net
nice
nohup
Manage network resources
Set the priority of a command
Run a command immune to hangups
onintr
Control the action of a shell interrupt
open
Open a file/folder/URL/Application
osascript Execute AppleScript
passwd
paste
pbcopy
pbpaste
pico
pmset
popd
pr
printenv
Modify a user password
Merge lines of files
Copy data to the clipboard
Paste data from the Clipboard
Simple text editor
Modify power management settings
Restore the previous value of the current directory
Convert text files for printing
Print environment variables
printf
ps
pushd
pwd
Format and print data
Process status
Save and then change the current directory
Print Working Directory
quota
Display disk usage and limits
rcp
repeat
rm
rmdir
rpm
rsync
Copy files between machines.
Execute a command multiple times
Remove files
Remove folder(s)
Remote Package Manager
Remote file copy - Sync file tree (also RsyncX)
say
Convert text to audible speech
sched
Schedule a command to run at a later time.
screencapture Capture screen image to file or disk
sdiff
Merge two files interactively
sed
Stream Editor
set
Set a shell variable = value
setenv
Set an environment variable = value
setfile
Set attributes of HFS+ files
shift
Shift positional parameters
shutdown Shutdown or restart OS X
sleep
Delay for a specified time
softwareupdate System software update tool
sort
Sort text files
split
Split a file into fixed-size pieces
stop
Stop a job or process
su
Substitute user identity
sudo
Execute a command as another user
sum
Print a checksum for a file
switch
Conditionally perform a command
tail
Output the last part of files
tar
Tape ARchiver
tee
Redirect output to multiple files
test
Condition evaluation
time
Measure Program Resource Use
touch
Change file timestamps
traceroute Trace Route to Host
tr
Translate, squeeze, and/or delete characters
true
Do nothing, successfully
tty
Print filename of terminal on stdin
umask
Users file creation mask
umount
unalias
uname
unexpand
uniq
units
unset
unsetenv
users
uuencode
uudecode
a device
Remove an alias
Print system information
Convert spaces to tabs
Uniquify files
Convert units from one scale to another
Remove variable or function names
Remove environment variable
Print login names of users currently logged in
Encode a binary file
Decode a file created by uuencode
wc
where
which
while
who
whoami
Print byte, word, and line counts
Report all known instances of a command
Locate a program file in the user's path
Execute commands
Print all usernames currently logged on
Print the current user id and name (`id -un')
xargs
yes
Execute utility - passing arguments
Print a string until interrupted
Note: tcsh is the default shell in OS X Jaguar (10.2)
Panther (10.3) and Tiger (10.4) default to bash - many commands do work in either shell,
but this page will soon be updated to list the bash syntax.